WHEN YOU ARE
CONVERTED
Testimonial given by Elder Dale Peterson at Center Place Branch in 2008
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." [Ephesians 6:10-16]
I knew pretty much everything I needed to know about Jesus when I was four years old. When my mom put me to bed, she would lie down beside me and sing, "Jesus Loves Me." Everything else unfolds from that!
In the small community where I was raised, everybody knew what church you were in if you were a Peterson. They were good people, and I was fortunate to have had good pastors while growing up. However, when I was a freshman in high school, I began to be troubled over why the pastor was being paid. There were other good men in the congregation that I felt could give sermons and share testimonies just as well. Another thing that bothered me was that our minister would often declare our sins forgiven. I wondered how he knew my sins were forgiven. I knew enough about repentance to think, "How does he know that I have even asked God to forgive me of my sins? He doesn't know me that well."
Then one particular incident happened that really started me on a Spiritual journey. One day when I was a teenager, I was visiting a friend who was watching the store for his dad. My Sunday School teacher came in. He jokingly made a statement. While making the statement, he cursed. I couldn't reconcile the contradiction: my Sunday School teacher cursing in front of his student. Because I was concerned about paid ministers, concerned about some man knowing my sins were forgiven when he didn't really know me, and because my teacher cursed, I began to think a lot more about what was in my church.
After I graduated from high school, I went to college. Then I started visiting other churches. I was searching and praying and asking God where I should go. (Imagine my surprise when I heard about Joseph Smith's dilemma and his story.)
During my junior year, I got a phone call from a lady who lived in the city where I was attending college. She told me my aunt (who was a member of the RLDS Church ) had called her and told her where I lived. She invited me to go to church with her. Though I thought I would never leave the church I grew up it, I decided to go with her anyway. When we sat down in the sanctuary, I noticed there were seven or eight men sitting up front. I had never seen that before. I didn't know what was going on. She informed me that it was Communion Sunday, and when she told me it was closed communion, I didn't have a problem with it. The next time I went back, I found out that none of those men, who had been up front that first Sunday, were paid. As time went by, I learned that one of those men was a wealthy Jew and one was a man who was a common laborer. Yet they shared an "identity of purpose," and they were "totally equal" in God's sight. Then I knew God had answered my prayers, and I was converted to the church.
Some years later, I read Luke 22:28-31. Christ was talking with His disciples. This conversation took place just before Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times:
"…And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired you, that he may sift the children of the kingdom as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not; and when you are converted strengthen your brethren."
Peter had been walking on the earth with Christ for some years, yet Jesus had to say to him, "Once you get converted, strengthen others." That struck me. We think we're converted, and I hope we are. However as the years have gone by, I have watched people be strong in the church, then weak in the faith, burn hot, then become cold, and some fall away, and I realize that most of us are like Peter. GOD IS WAITING FOR US TO BE TRULY CONVERTED.
In 1829, there was an account given of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, and Joseph Smith. Ultimately they agreed that the four of them would go into the woods to pray. They wanted God to part the veil so they could be the three special witnesses of the golden plates on which the Book of Mormon was engraved. They took turns praying once, then twice, but nothing happened. After the second failure, Martin Harris said he thought he was the reason why they did not obtain what they were asking from God. So he separated himself and went off to pray alone. The three remaining men prayed again, and God did show them the plates, etc. Afterwards, Joseph found Martin who was fervently praying alone. Joseph began to pray with him, and once again, the heavens were opened and the same vision was given to them.
I wonder how many Martins there are in our midst today? Lord is it me? I wonder if we could have a Healing Service if there were no Martins in our midst. How many go to church to hear another sermon without giving any thought to your own preparation? Arthur Oakman said in a sermon, "There are people lying on beds of affliction that could be healed IF there were more virtue in our church." How many of us are a Martin? The good thing about Martin Harris was that when God didn't manifest Himself, he didn't say, "Is it one of you guys?" There was something in his heart that inhibited God from speaking. It's hard for us to look at ourselves to see what the problem is. We'd rather blame somebody else.
Several years ago, a young man's aunt died suddenly. She wasn't very old. He was upset that he didn't get to speak with her before she died. The following Sunday, they had a circle prayer at our church. As we all held hands, each one of us added a sentence to the prayer. When it became this young man's turn, all he said from the deepest recesses of his heart was, "I NEED HELP!" I've never forgotten that. Those three words made a difference in my life forever. When was the last time you admitted to God that you are nothing without Him?
I have twin sisters who are 10 years older than I. One of them has an IQ of a genius. The other has Down Syndrome. Joyce has Down Syndrome. A number of years ago, Joyce had to have gallbladder surgery. She went into the hospital the night before. I wasn't able to be there with her, so I decided to give her a call that night to encourage her. (One thing you need to know is that people with Down Syndrome have no guile, they call a spade a spade, and when asked a question, they tell the truth.) When I called her, I asked her if she was scared. She answered, "A little bit." So I began to share with her what I had learned in my ministry. I told her, "God has angels who will come to be with you and help you not be afraid." She said, "Yes, they've already been here." Surprised, I asked her what they did. She told me they put their hands on her head and stomach and prayed for her.
There's a saying that goes, "When the student is ready, the teacher will come." Apparently I was ready because suddenly she became my teacher. There are things going on in the world that we do not know about. Is it possible that God put Joyce on this earth just for that one moment of conversation-so she could teach me something I didn't yet understand about how God works in the life of mankind? The thing that was so awesome about this is there was no question about angel ministry in Joyce's mind. To Joyce it was, "Yes, they've already been here. Why would you even ask?" Shouldn't we all be like this? Shouldn't healing be common? Shouldn't we come freely to feast at the table of God's Holy Spirit?
About four years ago, I began developing some eye problems. Through stupidity on my own part, I allowed the problem to become a very bad problem. One morning I woke up and within two and a half hours I couldn't see. I was blind. People have said to me since then, "Well, if anybody could handle something like that, you could." Trust me, I couldn't handle it. Though I was administered to, I wasn't healed on the spot. Maybe God had a purpose for me not being healed on the spot.
I want to share something with you that I learned from being blind. Every day I wake up grateful for every face I see, every blade of grass, and for everything God created. Here's what it's like to go blind: Close your eyes. Now imagine that no matter what you do or what your will is, you can never open them again. How much fear, etc. would come into your mind? That's what happened to me. Then as a result of three surgeries, which still left me blind, I had to spend 23.5 hours lying on my stomach every day. That's how I had to lay because of what they did to my eyes. I was totally helpless. I wasn't able to handle that! No one knew if I would ever get my sight back.
The enemy (satan) would like to kill God's people, but if he can't kill you physically, once something like this happens to you, he will try to destroy you spiritually. That is what he was trying to do to me while I was lying there totally helpless. As I laid there, I learned that the only thing that helped me was to praise God and thank Him for His goodness and mercy, which I did over and over again. If I did it one time, I did it 10,000 times to keep the enemy from attacking my soul! By the grace of God, some good things began to happen over time, and I was able to see again. It all came together, and I began to understand why God allowed that experience to happen to me and why I wasn't healed right away.
After God answered Martin Harris and Joseph Smith's prayers, Martin said, "Hosanna!" What I learned from my experience is that I wasn't praising God enough! I learned that NONE of us are praising God enough. I enjoy watching Christian television and seeing some of the Praise Services. I have come to the conclusion that we're a "sober" bunch, and I'm not so sure that it's right. We need to praise God more than we have ever praised God before! Then God will be able to bless us more than ever before. I truly believe this, and this is my testimony.
In 1971, my family attended a reunion. We were a young family and new in the church. I'd never heard God speak through one of His servants before. A Patriarch was at the Prayer Service Friday morning. He said something I have never forgotten. What he said applied to us then, and it applies to us today. Though there are still imperfections in the Center Place congregation, I have told a number of people that there is something special going on here. If you can examine your lives and shed off whatever it is that's holding you back, your congregation is going to be a "light on the hill" like you've never seen. The Spirit of God bears witness to me of that. As the Patriarch stood before us on that Friday morning, 35 years ago, he spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit. He said, "What say ye then, My people. Take ye then My hand extended. Let Me lead you where I will. Peace and safety, light and glory crowns the crest of Zion's hill. Hallelujah to the Lamb!" U
